An uncomfortable moment at the swearing-in ceremony of US Senators on Friday quickly became the center of controversy when Bruce Fisher, the husband of Republican Senator Deb Fischer, appeared to refuse a handshake from Vice President Kamala Harris. A video capturing the incident has gone viral, sparking intense debate across social media platforms.
In the footage, Fisher, holding a cane in one hand and a Bible in the other, stands rigidly beside his wife as Harris approaches after administering the oath of office. A slight nudge from Deb Fischer subtly encourages her husband to move closer to Harris. Responding with good humor, the Vice President, smiling, said, “It’s okay, I won’t bite. Don’t worry,” attempting to ease any tension.
Fisher, while flashing a brief smile, made no attempt to engage further. When Harris extended her hand for a handshake after the ceremony, Fisher seemingly declined. Instead of shaking hands, he offered a curt “thank you” and placed his other hand in his pocket. The awkward moment was highlighted by Harris’s raised eyebrow, which caught the attention of onlookers.
The incident quickly ignited a wave of reactions online, with many liberal commentators criticizing Fisher for what they perceived as a snub of the Vice President. Liberal podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen condemned the gesture, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “The husband of a Republican senator just refused to shake hands or make eye contact with Vice President Harris. The level of class you can expect from MAGA.”
Author Don Winslow went even further, calling Fisher’s behavior “disgraceful” and accusing him of lacking basic decency. “He cannot muster a few seconds of class to shake the hands of @VP Kamala Harris,” Winslow said. “Pigs don’t only live on farms. He is a pig.”
Radio host Roland Martin also weighed in, criticizing the refusal to even make eye contact with Harris. “In the FULL video, he didn’t even want to stand next to her! Stop making excuses. He QUICKLY put his hand in his pocket so as not to touch her,” Martin remarked.
On the other side of the aisle, Republicans defended Fisher’s actions, citing that he was simply holding a cane, which made it difficult for him to shake hands. Some suggested that the incident was being blown out of proportion, pointing out that there was no ill intent.
Despite the varying interpretations of the incident, one thing is clear: the moment has sparked heated discussions about civility, politics, and the often complex dynamics of political gestures. Whether seen as a simple misunderstanding or a deliberate snub, the video has captured widespread attention and continued to dominate social media.
